MapVivid
Crazy House and around
A day in Dalat · 9:30–17:30 · 5 stops
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mapvivid.com/dalat/itineraries/crazy-house-and-aroundA walking day around Crazy House, Dalat Cathedral and Xuan Huong Lake, with a lunch break nearby and Bao Dai Summer Palace to end the day.
Every stop on Google Maps: open the list
Morning
9:301Crazy House ↗1 hGo early
Fantastical gaudi-style guesthouse of winding stairways.
- Watch your step
- Allow an hour
↓ 23 min walk
11:002Dalat Cathedral ↗1 hDress code
Pink Gothic cathedral topped with a rooster.
- Check mass times
- Photograph from the street
↓ 5 min walk
12:003Central lake ringed by a pleasant walking path.
- Rent a swan pedal boat
- Walk at sunrise
Lunch
13:00Lunch break nearby · Find restaurants nearby on Google Maps ↗
↓ 24 min walk
Afternoon
14:304Art deco station with a vintage train to Trai Mat.
- Ride the tourist train
- Check times
↓ 28 min walk
16:005Bao Dai Summer Palace ↗1 h 30 min
Art deco summer villa of Vietnams last emperor.
- Shoe covers provided
- Allow an hour
Good to know. Times are a guide for an unhurried pace. Check opening days before you go.
Dalat tips
Cultural
- Try warm soy milk: Locals sip hot sua dau nanh with small pastries on cool evenings, and the stalls on the steps near Da Lat Market are the classic place to join them.
- Taste artichoke tea: Dalat grows artichokes and turns them into a sweet herbal tea sold at Da Lat Market; it makes an easy gift and a local way to warm up after a chilly walk.
- Try lau ga la e: Chicken hotpot with peppery e leaves is a Dalat speciality, best shared in a group at a local restaurant on a cold night, with banh can or nem nuong to start.
Local Hacks
- Climb Langbiang early: Start the hike up Langbiang mountain at dawn to see clouds settling over the valleys and the pine forest before tour jeeps and crowds arrive.
- Explore hillside cafés: Dalat is famous for creative cafés overlooking pine hills and greenhouses; walk a few streets away from Xuan Huong Lake to find quieter ones with better views.
- Time the flower festival: The Dalat Flower Festival, usually held every other year around December, fills the streets with displays and parades; book accommodation well ahead.
Saving
- Eat Dalat pizza: Banh trang nuong, grilled rice paper topped with egg and spring onion, is a cheap snack sold around the night market and Da Lat Market.
- Stay in a homestay: Family homestays around the city centre are cheap, friendly and often include breakfast and local tips from the hosts.
- Enjoy free walks: Stroll around Xuan Huong Lake, through the pine forests of Tuyen Lam Lake, and around the flower gardens for little or no cost.
Security
- Choose canyoning carefully: Datanla canyoning is popular but has had accidents, so book only with established operators that provide helmets, harnesses and trained guides.
- Agree on prices first: Some xe om drivers and stallholders around the night market quote higher prices to visitors, so confirm the price before you ride, eat or buy strawberries.
- Ride defensively: Fog, steep hills and slick roads after rain make motorbike riding around Dalat risky; wear a proper helmet, carry a valid licence and avoid riding at night.
Transportation
- Take a sleeper bus: Overnight sleeper buses from Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang, such as those run by Phuong Trang, are comfortable and drop off near the town centre.
- Fly into Lien Khuong: Lien Khuong Airport lies about 30 km south of Dalat; airline shuttle buses or Grab cars wait outside and take you directly to town.
- Ride the old railway: The historic Dalat Railway Station runs a short tourist train to Trai Mat, where you can visit the colourful Linh Phuoc Pagoda.
Weather/Clothing
- Pack warm layers: Dalat sits at about 1,500 metres and feels cool all year, with chilly mornings and nights, so bring a jacket and long trousers.
- Expect rainy-season showers: From around May to October, afternoon downpours are common, so carry a rain poncho if you plan to ride a motorbike.
- Visit in the dry season: December to March brings clearer skies and cool nights, ideal for hiking Langbiang and exploring flower farms.
Planned with MapVivid. Opening hours change, so check each place before you go. This day, with the map: mapvivid.com/dalat/itineraries/crazy-house-and-around
Day 1 of 19:30–17:305 stops
Crazy House and around
A walking day around Crazy House, Dalat Cathedral and Xuan Huong Lake, with a lunch break nearby and Bao Dai Summer Palace to end the day.
Opens Google Maps with every stop of the day, ready to save to your own list.
Morning
109:30 · 1 hFantastical gaudi-style guesthouse of winding stairways.
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Watch your step
- Allow an hour
📷 Photos
23 min walk
211:00 · 1 hPink Gothic cathedral topped with a rooster.
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Check mass times
- Photograph from the street
📷 Photos
5 min walk
312:00 · 1 hCentral lake ringed by a pleasant walking path.
3 tips
- Rent a swan pedal boat
- Walk at sunrise
- Cafes along the shore
📷 Photos
Lunch
Lunch break nearby · 13:00
Find restaurants nearby on Google Maps24 min walk
Afternoon
414:30 · 1 hArt deco station with a vintage train to Trai Mat.
3 tips
- Ride the tourist train
- Check times
- Photograph old carriages
📷 Photos
28 min walk
516:00 · 1 h 30 minArt deco summer villa of Vietnams last emperor.
3 tips
- Shoe covers provided
- Allow an hour
- Gardens are pleasant
📷 Photos
Take this day with you
Add the stops to your calendar
Times are local time in Dalat. Apple Calendar adds every stop at once (Outlook too). Google Calendar adds one event per link.
Times are a guide for an unhurried pace. Check opening days before you go.